Interpretation apparatus and method

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an interpretation apparatus includes a translator, a calculator and a generator. The translator performs machine translation on a speech recognition result corresponding to an input speech audio from a first language into a second language to generate a machine translation result. The calculator calculates a word number based on a first time when the machine translation result is generated and a second time when output relating to a prior machine translation result generated prior to the machine translation result ends, the word number being 0 or larger. The generator omits at least the word number of words from the machine translation result to generate an abridged sentence output while being associated with the speech audio.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An interpretation apparatus, comprising:
 a speech recognition unit that performs a speech recognition process on an input speech audio to generate a speech recognition result; 
 a translator that performs machine translation on the speech recognition result from a first language into a second language to generate a machine translation result; 
 a calculator that calculates a word number based on (a) a first time when the machine translation result is generated and a second time when output relating to a prior machine translation result generated prior to the machine translation result ends, the word number being 0 or larger, or (b) a time length during which input of the speech audio continues and a time length corresponding to a total number of words included in the machine translation result corresponding to the speech audio, the word number being 0 or larger; and 
 a generator that omits at least the word number of words from the machine translation result to generate an abridged sentence output while being associated with the speech audio. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the calculator calculates the word number based on a delay time from the generation of the machine translation result to the end of the output relating to the prior machine translation result. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the calculator calculates the word number further based on a time length corresponding to a total number of words included in the machine translation result, a third time when input of the speech audio ends, and a permissible delay time from the end of the input of the speech audio to an end of the output of the abridged sentence. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the generator determines a word to be omitted from the machine translation result based on importance of the word based on at least one of whether information is new or old, and a prepared word list. 
 
     
     
       5. An interpretation method, comprising:
 performing a speech recognition process on an input speech audio to generate a speech recognition result; 
 performing machine translation on the speech recognition result from a first language into a second language to generate a machine translation result; 
 calculating a word number based on (a) a first time when the machine translation result is generated and a second time when output relating to a prior machine translation result generated prior to the machine translation result ends, the word number being 0 or larger, or (b) a time length during which input of the speech audio continues and a time length corresponding to a total number of words included in the machine translation result corresponding to the speech audio, the word number being 0 or larger; and 
 omitting at least the word number of words from the machine translation result to generate an abridged sentence output by being associated with the speech audio. 
 
     
     
       6. A non--transitory computer readable medium including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
 performing a speech recognition process on an input speech audio to generate a speech recognition result; 
 performing machine translation on the speech recognition result from a first language into a second language to generate a machine translation result; 
 calculating a word number based on (a) a first time when the machine translation result is generated and a second time when output relating to a prior machine translation result generated prior to the machine translation result ends, the word number being 0 or larger, or (b) a time length during which input of the speech audio continues and a time length corresponding to a total number of words included in the machine translation result corresponding to the speech audio, the word number being 0 or larger; and 
 omitting at least the word number of words from the machine translation result to generate an abridged sentence output by being associated with the speech audio.